Bedstead



L. HOWE.

BEDSTEAD.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. s, |921.

Pdtmited May 16, 1922.

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LUCIEN HOWE, 0F BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

BEDSTEAD.

Laisser.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented May 16, 1922.

Application led March 8, 1921. Serial No. 450,571.

To all whom t may concern.:

Be it known that I, LUCIEN Hown, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county ot Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Bedsteads, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an attachment for beds which is more particularly intended for hospital use. although it is applicable to beds generally.

The chief objects of the invention are to provide improved means for supporting the covers above the bed clear ot the occupant lying therein to form an enclosure or housing, and heating and cooling means for automatically maintaining the enclosureat a constant temperature.

Further objects are to provide cover supporting means which are adjustable to suit different sized beds and which are ot such a character as to facilitate access to the patient when desired, without entirely exposing him to the outside air.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 a side elevation of a bed showing my improvements applied thereto. Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof. Figure 3 is a sectional inside tace view ot the heating and cooling apparatus, showing the elec-- tric circuit diagrammatically.v Flgnre 4 is nection with my invention. the bed shownA in the drawings.y for example. comprising a head trame 10. a toot trame l1.v longitudinal side rails 12 connecting said trames, and a mattress 125 supported between the rails.

The means for supporting the covers 11 above the mattress, clear ot the patient. are preferablyY constructed as follows:

15 represents a main trame ot substantially U-shaped torni which is disposed horizontally above the central and head portion ot the bed, and 16 represents an auxiliary tramey ot substantially rectangular torni which is disposed horizontally above the toot portion ot' the bed and overliangs the toot frame 11 a suitable distance. These frames may be constructed of tubular material and are capable of a vertically swinging movement. For this purpose, they are mounted on a transverse rod or cross bar 17 supported at its ends in standards 18, which are carried by companion brackets 19 suitably secured to the side rails 12 of the bed, so that the standards may be adjusted vertically relatively to their brackets. This adjustment is accomplished by clamping bolts 20 passing .through upright slots 21 in the standards and one or another of a vertical row of threaded openings 22 in the companion brackets. The main frame 15 is provided with .bearing members 23 which are loosely mounted on the cross bar 17 and by which said frame is tulcrumed or pivotally Supported to swing in a vertical plane. The auxiliary frame 16 is' hinged to the cross bar as shown` at 24, Figs. 2 and 4. 'The arms 25 of the main-frame extend rearwardly from the cross bar and are provided with suitable counterweights 26 adjustably mounted thereon for the purpose of balancing the trame and the covers placed thereon.

In order to permit ot adjusting the main and auxiliary frames 15 and 16, as to their length and width, so as to enable them to be applicable to beds ot different sizes, the corners of the trames are provided with adjustable sections 2T and 28 respectively, which telescope into the corresponding ends ot said frames and are. detachably connected therewith by set screws 28 in any suitable manner.

ATo support the auxiliary frame 16 in its normal horizontal position. the same rests at its rear end upon a cross rod 29 supportedat its ends in bearing blocks 30. These blocks are mounted for vertical adjustment on upright posts 31. carried by brackets 32 suitably secured tothe toot trame l1 of the bed, Horizontal brace rods 33 connected at one end of these blocks and at their other end to the cross bar 1T serve to strengthen and rigidly supportl the upright posts 31. The arms 25 of the main trame normally engage the underside of the cross bar :29 and thereby prevent said frame from swinging dmvnwardlv and resting on the occupant lying in the bed.

ln order to properly support the bed covers and prevent thesame from sagging below the frames 15 and 1G, the spaces formed by the latter are preferably provided with sheets 34 and respectively, of canvas or other suitable material, these sheets being attached to their respective frames .by lacing 36 or other appropriate means.

As shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1 and full lines in Figs. 4 and 5, the bed covers 14 are supported on the frames 15, 16, and hang over the sides and ends of'said frames, the dependin portions of the covers extending a suitable distance below the mattress, whereby an enclosure 87 is provided, forming an air space above the occupants body. The head end of the main frame terminates a suitable distance from the head frame 10 of the bed, as shown, and the corresponding depending portion 14a of the cover is provided with a recess 14b for permitting the head of the patient to be exposed to the outside air.

By this construction, an enclosure for the occupant of the bed is formed, the roof section of the enclosure being composed of two movable frames, one of which may be readily manipulated by the occupant himself, while the other one may be lifted by the attendant whenever it is desired to examine or treat the lower extremities of the occupant.

The apparatus for heating or cooling the enclosure 37 and automatically keeping the temperature constant therein is preferably constructed as follows:

Located at the foot of the bed is a portable cabinet 38 which comprises a cold air or refrigerator box 39 supported on casters 40 to facilitate its being moved from one place to another. Suitably supported on the upper side of this refrigerator box and communieating therewith is a chamber or compartment 41 which is .closed on all sides except that side facing towardthe adjacent end of the enclosure 37, this compartment extending into said enclosure so as to be substantially in line therewith. Arranged within they compartment is a heating unit of any suitable construction, that shown in the drawingsconsisting of an electric heater 42 of usual construction having a reflector 43 for directing the heatinto the enclosure. The refrigerator box 39 is connected with the chamber 41 by a conduit or air shaft 44, and an electric fan 45 or similar device is arranged in said chamber near the outlet end of the conduit for drawing the cold air from the refrigerator and delivering it into the enclosure.v The heater and fan are included in an electric circuit 46 in which is located a suitable thermostat 47 for regulating the respective heating and cooling elements. It will be understood that when the temperature within the enclosure falls below a predetermined degree, the thermostat will cause the heater 42 to be switched into the circuit until the temperature has reached the desired degree. 'hen the temperature risesabove such degree, the fan 45 is automatically switched into the circuit in response to the action ol the thermostat and the heater is cut outuntil the temperature drops below normal, when the fan is again cut out and the heater switched in. Any suitable means may be employed for regulating the thermostat to maintain the temperature at a predetermined degree.

The thermostat is shown as located within the chamber 41, although, if desired, it may be located at any point within the enclosure 37.

This improved bed attachment not only keeps the covers clear of the occupant of the bed, so as to give him greater comfort and permit him to move about freely, but together with the covers, it forms an enclosure which may be kept at a predetermined temperature to suit the requirements of the occupant. Furthermore, the swinging frames 15, 16, permit of ready accessibility to the patient for examination and other purposes. Besides these advantages, it is extremely sanitary, easily ventilated and economical, affording a material saving in bedding.

I claim as my invention:

1. An attachment for supporting the covers of a bed, comprising standards carried by the side rails of the bed, a cross bar support ed at its ends in said standards, and a vertically swinging frame fulcrumed on said cross bar.

2. An attachment for supporting the cov ers of a bed, comprising standards carried by the side rails of the bed, a cross bar supported at its ends on said standards, a main frame disposed substantially above the head and central portion of the bed and fulcrumed on said cross bar, and an auxiliary frame disposed substantially above the foot portion ofthe bed and hinged to said cross bar.

3. An attachment for supporting the covers of a bed, comprising standards carried by the side rails of thev bed and extending above the plane of the mattress, and a vertically swinging U-shaped frame fulcrumed on said standards, thc arms of said frame extending beyond the fulcrum thereof and provided with counterweights for balancing the frame and covers supported thereon.

4. An attachment for supporting the covers of a bed, comprising standards carried by the bed and extending above the plane of the mattress, a main frame disposed substantially above the head and central portion of the bed and fulcrumed on said standards, an auxiliary frame mounted for vertically swinging movement on said standards and disposed above the foot portion of the bed, and means for supporting said lastnamed frame in its normal horizontal position.

5. An attachment for supporting the covers of a bed,con1prising vertically adjustable standards carried by the side rails of the bed, a cross bar supported at its ends in said standards, a vertically swingplfinpr main frame disposed substantially above the head and central portion of the bed and ulcrunied on said cross bar, an auxiliary frame disposed substantially above the foot portion of the bed and hinged to said cross bar, upright posts supported at the foot end of the bed, l0 and a vertically adiustable cross rod guided on said posts for supporting said auxiliary :traine in its normal horizontal position.

LUCIEN HOVVE. 

